Reliable, accessible air service is not a luxury for Southeast Alberta. It is a core piece of economic infrastructure that supports business growth, workforce attraction, tourism, health care access, and regional competitiveness. That is why improving air service at the Medicine Hat Regional Airport (YXH) has been a long-standing advocacy priority for the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce.

As a new round of public engagement opens for the City of Medicine Hat’s Airport Master Plan, this is an important moment for businesses to get involved and help the Chamber’s work by participating and encouraging businesses and residents to help shape the future of regional air service.

Why Air Service Matters to Our Business Community

For local employers, air connectivity directly affects productivity, investment decisions, and talent recruitment. For entrepreneurs and growing firms, it enables access to markets, suppliers, and customers well beyond our region. For the broader community, it supports emergency response, medical travel, post-secondary access, and a more resilient local economy.

Over the years, Chamber members have consistently raised concerns about limited routes, service reliability, and the long-term viability of air service in Medicine Hat. These concerns have informed our advocacy efforts and policy positions, guided by one central belief: a strong regional airport is essential to a strong regional economy.

The Chamber’s Advocacy on Airport Services

The Chamber has actively supported policies and advocacy initiatives aimed at improving air service at YXH, recognizing both the operational realities of regional aviation and the economic cost of inaction.

Our advocacy has focused on several key themes:

• The need for sustainable, reliable regional air service
• The importance of long-term planning aligned with economic growth
• Collaboration between municipal leaders, airport operators, airlines, and the business community
• Clear accountability and transparent decision-making around air service investments

Through formal policy positions and ongoing engagement with the City of Medicine Hat, regional partners, and provincial stakeholders, the Chamber has consistently reinforced that air service challenges require coordinated and forward-looking solutions rather than short-term fixes.

Enter the Airport Master Plan

In 2024, the City of Medicine Hat began developing a comprehensive Airport Master Plan for the Medicine Hat Regional Airport. This plan will guide the future of YXH over the next 20 years, setting a long-term vision for how the airport can support regional air transportation needs and economic development.

Once complete, the Airport Master Plan will outline:

• How airport infrastructure will be maintained and improved
• How future demand will be forecast and planned for
• Opportunities to strengthen the airport’s economic and community impact
• Strategic priorities for airport development and operations

For the Chamber, this process represents a critical opportunity to ensure that the voice of business is reflected in long-term planning decisions that will affect our region for decades.

What We Have Learned So Far

The first round of engagement for the Airport Master Plan is now complete. More than 30 key airport stakeholders participated, including  the Chamber and organizations directly connected to airport operations and regional air service. Our input helps to shape both the Airport Strategic Plan and the Social and Economic Impact Study, both targeted for completion in Q1 2026.

Key themes emerging from this initial engagement have been summarized in a publicly available What We Heard Report. These insights reinforce many of the messages the Chamber has heard from its members over the years, including the need for stability, clarity of vision, and stronger alignment between airport planning and regional economic goals.

Public Engagement Now Underway

The second round of engagement is now open, and this is where the broader community has an opportunity to weigh in. Community members, businesses, and organizations across Southeast Alberta are invited to participate through several engagement opportunities.

Pop-Up Engagement Events

Monday, January 19, 2026
1:30 to 4:00 p.m. - YXH Main Terminal Building
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. - Medicine Hat Mall, Centre Court

Tuesday, January 20, 2026
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. - Big Marble Go Centre

Wednesday, January 21, 2026
7:00 to 9:00 a.m. - Station Coffee Co.
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Medicine Hat Public Library

Online Survey

An online survey through Shape Your City from January 19 to February 8 at 11:59 p.m. Participants can share their perspectives on the future of YXH and will be entered into a draw for a $75 prepaid credit card.

How You Can Influence the Future of YXH

At the engagement sessions and through the survey, participants will be asked to provide input on several important questions, including:

• What value does the Medicine Hat Regional Airport provide to you or your organization?
• What priorities should shape the airport’s long-term vision and mission?
• What does success look like for YXH in the future?

This feedback will directly inform the Airport Master Plan and help ensure it reflects how the airport serves the needs of the region it supports.

The Chamber’s Call to Action

The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce strongly encourages our members to participate in this engagement process. Business input is essential to ensuring the Airport Master Plan reflects real-world transportation needs, economic realities, and growth opportunities.

The City of Medicine Hat and HM Aero have emphasized their commitment to inclusive engagement, and this is an opportunity for the business community to help shape practical, long-term solutions.

We will continue to advocate for improved regional air service and to work alongside our partners to support smart planning, sustainable investment, and meaningful collaboration. Together, we can help ensure YXH remains an asset that strengthens our economy, connects our region, and supports future growth.

To learn more or get involved, visit the Shape Your City Airport Master Plan project page or learn more about the Medicine Hat Regional Airport and its services at medicinehat.ca/airport.